What was the outcome of the 16th Lok Sabha elections?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → BJP won 282 seats on its own.

In the 16th Lok Sabha elections of 2014, the BJP won 282 seats on its own, becoming the first party to gain a single-party majority after 30 years; even so, it chose to form the NDA government with its coalition partners.

Option (2) BJP could not gain single party majority and thus, chose to form NDA with its coalition partners. — Incorrect. The BJP did get a single-party majority; it chose to form the NDA government despite it.

Option (3) There was negligible difference between the votes polled by the Congress and the BJP — Incorrect. That was true of the 2004 election, not of 2014.

Option (4) It witnessed the partial revival of the Congress party. — Incorrect. The partial revival of the Congress came in the 2004 election, when it could increase its seats once again after 1991; the 2014 election brought the BJP a clear majority.

NCERT (2025-26): “Lok Sabha Elections (2004-2019) … In the elections of 2004, the Congress party too entered into coalitions in a big way. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was defeated and a new coalition government led by the Congress, known as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) came to power. This government received support from the Left Front parties. The elections of 2004 also witnessed the partial revival of Congress party. It could increase its seats once again after 1991. However, in the 2004 elections, there was a negligible difference between the votes polled by the Congress and its allies and the BJP and its allies.…

Emergence of a new consensus … Bhartiya Janata Party declared Narendra Modi (then the Chief Minister of Gujrat) as its Prime Ministerial candidate in September 2013. BJP under the leadership of Narendra Modi got a clear majority in 16th Lok Sabha elections held in 2014. BJP won 282 seats on its own, becoming the first party to gain single party majority after 30 years. Despite single-party majority of its own, BJP did choose to form the NDA government with its coalition partners.…”